The Power of Living in the Present Moment

Imagine you woke up feeling well-rested, excited about your day, and knowing you could achieve whatever you desired.

Sound idyllic?

Well, what’s stopping you?

YOU are stopping you. Specifically, your thoughts. The story playing in your head, comparing yourself to others, judging yourself, and the negative self-talk. 

How do you quiet your thoughts so you can experience more joy?

You bring yourself into the present moment. 

What does that mean?

It means to focus on what is right in front of you. At this very moment, what can you be grateful for? You are breathing. You are surrounded by people who love you. You have enough to eat. You are encircled by the beauty of nature—the sun, the sky, the trees.

When you think about how you wish the past was different or you worry about what might happen in the future, you are not in the present moment. Not living in the present moment results in unhappiness, disappointment, and frustration.

Let’s be honest. This is not easy. It is perfectly normal to feel guilty about a decision you made that didn’t have a positive outcome. It makes sense that you feel scared your son or daughter might not lead the life you imagined. It’s no wonder you are doubting yourself given that you haven’t heard from your boss about that promotion.

We all experience thoughts like these. However, how long you dwell on those thoughts has a significant impact on your happiness. If you keep replaying the story in your head of what was or what might be, you feel frustrated, irritated, and exhausted. 

The fact is your past does not define who you are. You made the best choices possible with the information you had so stop ruminating.

Nor do your thoughts about the future mean it’s inevitable that your predictions will come true. When your mind is focused on what might happen and constructs worst-case scenarios based on unreliable assumptions, you are wasting valuable energy and time.

Choose to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Press pause on that story playing in your head. Take a few, slow, deep breaths. Feel the weight on your shoulders lift. Experience the negative thoughts melting away. 

What are you experiencing right now that you are grateful for? Bring your attention to the present moment and focus on what’s going well for you. Let those positive thoughts fill you up so that you feel energized and empowered. 

Living with gratitude in the present moment is the secret to living a life of meaning and joy.

“Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift.”
—Oprah Winfrey

💛Picture taken at sunrise at the Colorado River—my happy place 💛